Ok, I have a 2004 f150, 4x4, 4.6l with tow pkg. Am towing an Aerolite 718d with a supposed dry weight of 3050 lbs. There are only 2 of us and we travel pretty light, so I am not really concerned about weight issues and it tows fine in the flats, will find out in next few weeks about the hills. My questions are: 1: Folks are always talking about weighing their rigs. Since I live in a more rural non-industrial area I am trying to figure out were everyone goes to get their weights. Thought I would do it out of curiosity next time we get all loaded up. Closest CW or similar is like 35 miles. No big truck stops close by.2: How do you get an accurate hitch weight?3: Next trip will be to NC mountains. Anyone know of a place between Holden Beach NC and Asheville via 74 to Charlotte, then on to Hendersonville, Asheville were there is a convenient place to stop and get weighed?Sorry if this is a duplicate...I know there is a million post out there on weighing / weights.

Scales are sometimes available at grain elevators, quarries, and landfills.

riven1950 wrote:Ok, I have a 2004 f150, 4x4, 4.6l with tow pkg. Am towing an Aerolite 718d with a supposed dry weight of 3050 lbs. There are only 2 of us and we travel pretty light, so I am not really concerned about weight issues and it tows fine in the flats, will find out in next few weeks about the hills. My questions are: 1: Folks are always talking about weighing their rigs. Since I live in a more rural non-industrial area I am trying to figure out were everyone goes to get their weights. Thought I would do it out of curiosity next time we get all loaded up. Closest CW or similar is like 35 miles. No big truck stops close by.2: How do you get an accurate hitch weight?3: Next trip will be to NC mountains. Anyone know of a place between Holden Beach NC and Asheville via 74 to Charlotte, then on to Hendersonville, Asheville were there is a convenient place to stop and get weighed?Sorry if this is a duplicate...I know there is a million post out there on weighing / weights.Don't know exactly what roads you'll travel, but off I 40 as your going past Asheville, the next exit is the Candler exit, there is a truck stop that has a drive on scales right behind it....It's CAT scales and I'm going to use it next time to weigh my truck, didn't even know it was back there till I topped off with Diesel and DEF last time I was there...that one is out of the way and you wouldn't tie up anything. On I26, heading to Hendersonville, there is a truck weigh station on your right just past Asheville airport exit.

Sorry about that, I meant to answer how to check trailer tongue weight and copied the below WITH PICTURES to try to help, but pictures didn't show...I just Googled, "How to check Travel Trailer Tongue weight....hope it'll help, sure there are some in here with simpler instructions and pictures...Determining Trailer Tongue WeightIn order to select the correct components to safely tow your trailer, you need to know its tongue weight. This is the weight that the fully loaded trailer exerts downward on the hitch ball of the tow vehicle. If you don't know the tongue weight of your trailer, there are several different ways you can determine it.Tongue weight scaleBathroom scaleCommercial scaleRemember, if you intend to use a weight distribution system, you will want to keep in mind the weight of the contents that you will carry in your vehicle behind the rear axle. You need to know this because the spring bars, which provide the support in a weight distribution system are available in different sizes. And any weight that is located behind your rear axle affects the performance of the spring bars. You will need to include this weight so you can select spring bars of the proper size for your vehicle and trailer.Tongue Weight ScaleWe offer a heavy-duty tongue weight scale that quickly, easily and accurately allows you to get the weight of the trailer tongue. This scale can weigh a trailer tongue with a weight of up to 2,000 lbs. Since tongue weight is typically 10% to 15% of the weight of the trailer, this scale can handle a gross trailer weight of up to 20,000 lbs. These images show the tongue weight scale in use. Be sure that the trailer is level and parked on level ground when you weigh it.Bathroom ScaleYou can use a bathroom scale and a box to measure tongue weight of smaller trailers. Place the coupler of the loaded trailer on the scale at normal towing height (Figure A). For heavier tongue weights, use the second method (Figure B). Be sure to perform these measurements on a level surface and with a leveled trailer.To use the method in Figure B, follow these guidelines:Always place the trailer tongue 1 foot from the pipe on the support brickMultiply the reading on the scale by the total distance between the 2 support pipesUse a brick that is the same thickness as the scale so that the 2 x 4 is level when you weigh your trailerFor example, if the distance between the trailer tongue and the pipe on the scale is 2 feet and the distance between the trailer tongue and the pipe on the support brick is 1 foot, then you would multiply the reading on the scale by 3 to get the tongue weight. If the distance between the trailer tongue and the pipe on the scale is 3 feet and the distance between the trailer tongue and the pipe on the support brick is 1 foot, then you would multiply the reading on the scale by 4 to get the tongue weight.Commercial ScaleAnother way to determine your trailer's tongue weight (and get your vehicle and trailer weights) is to take the trailer with your tow vehicle to a scale at a truck stop, quarry or material supply center. For a small fee, you can weigh your tow vehicle and trailer there.A. Determine Weight of Vehicle with Tongue WeightYour vehicle and trailer must be fully loaded and fueled just as they will be when you are leaving for a trip. First, drive on to the scale with all 4 wheels of the truck and record the weight of the truck with the trailer attached.B. Determine Weight of Vehicle without Tongue WeightNext, unhook the trailer and jack up the trailer tongue so there is no weight on the hitch ball. Make sure that the trailer jack is not on the scale. Record the weight of only the truck on the scale. This is your gross vehicle weight (GVW). Now, subtract the GVW from the weight of the truck with the trailer attached. This will give you the tongue weight of your trailer.A - B = Tongue WeightDetermine Tongue Weight for Weight Distribution SystemIf you want to use a weight distribution system, remember to include the weight of any gear you might load behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle. You should add the weight of this gear to your tongue weight to select a weight distribution system of the proper size. To get the weight of the gear behind the rear axle, weigh your vehicle with this gear and without. Then subtract the weight without the gear from the weight with the gear. This difference is the weight of your gear. In the formula below, C represents the weight of your gear. A represents the weight of your tow vehicle including the tongue weight. B represents the weight of your tow vehicle without the tongue weight.A good time to get this weight is when you are determining your tongue weight as described in step B, above. You can get the weight of your gear while you are weighing your tow vehicle.Weight of Vehicle with Gear Behind Rear Axle - Weight of Vehicle without Gear Behind Rear Axle = C (Weight of Your Gear)A - B + C = Tongue Weight for Weight Distribution SystemDetermine Additional WeightsWeight of Your TrailerWhile you are at the scale you can also make sure that your towing setup is within the rated capacity of your tow vehicle. To do this, you need to get the weight of your trailer. To weigh your trailer, pull it with your tow vehicle onto the scale so you can weigh them together. This weight is your Gross Combined Vehicle Weight (GCVW). You can get the weight of your trailer (Gross Trailer Weight - GTW) by subtracting the weight of your tow vehicle alone (GVW (Step B, above)) from the weight of your tow vehicle and trailer combined (GCVW). Then check your owner's manual or with your dealer to determine if the weight of your trailer is within the towing capacity of your tow vehicle.GCVW - GVW = GTW

jason4598 wrote:Scales are sometimes available at grain elevators, quarries, and landfills. and a area feed store that has their own mill may have a platform scale. Also we have a scrap steel recycling yard down the road with scales. Moving van warehouse can have a scale. Some may or may not charge for the use of their scales. There is scale etiquette such as don't stab the brakes or go pedal when stopping and starting while on the scales. Sitting with the foot on the brake and tranny in gear can give a faulty axle weight. Put'r in park.These are generally a single platform type scale.1st scale run. (1.)I drive my trucks front wheels on as far as possible for front axle weight. (2.)Then drive the truck all the way on for a gross weight. Subtract front axle weight from gross weight = rear axle weight.2nd scale run. With the trailer hooked up just repeat steps 1 and 2 above. (3.) then pull forward till all wheels are on the scales for your gross combined (truck and trailer). All the numbers you will give you the math for the trucks front and rear axles weight and the weight the trailers axle are carrying.

Almost every truck stop has a CAT scale that will give you three weights: front axle, rear axle, and trailer axle(s) on one pass.Weigh the entire rig once, then drop the trailer and weigh just the tow vehicle. The second weigh is usually no charge.You can calculate the hitch weight from there. Weight of TV with trailer (front+rear axles) minus weight of TV w/o trailer = hitch or pin weight.If you are not sure of the weighing procedure, park and inquire at the fuel desk. They will fill you in.

To weigh or not to weigh | Good Sam Community

Lowsuv
Explorer
Sep 10, 2013
In Oregon the ODOT weight scales are on every US Highway and Interstate Freeway .
When they are closed , they leave the scale operable .
We can weigh for free .
I have my choice of 5 different ODOT scales within a 40 mile radius of Bend in every direction .
Free , after hours .
None of my vehicles is close to the advertized empty weight .
riven1950
Explorer
Sep 06, 2013
Update: We just finished our trip of 2 weeks in the NC mountains and I did stop at a Cat scale. We were on our way back so we had all our "stuff" where it normally is in the TV and TT. Did forget to fill the gas tank before weighing, it was only about 1/4-1/2 full. Also my GF was not on board she was watching from a shady spot trying to figure out why I was going thru the process. Anyway, here is what I got.
Steer axle 3200
Drive axle 3260
trailer axle 3320
Gross weight 9780

truck alone 6110

So am I correct to figure my TT weight is 3670, tongue weight is 350?

Sounds about right as Aerolite says empty weight is 3050 and advertise tongue weight at 245 which i'm sure is empty too.

thanks
Longtrace
Explorer
Aug 18, 2013
riven1950 wrote:
Ps: On the Cat scale website it shows weighing the Tv / TT with TV front wheels on one scale, TV rear wheels on one scale, and TT wheels one 3rd scale. If this is possible with my rig will it give me the info I need to calculate hitch weight and other info I need or do I need to make a pass unhitched with just the TV? I am not using a WD system just a sway bar on one side of the hitch. Thanks, just a bit confused....

Most truckstop scales are triple-platform units. These give you a per-axle weight as well as total. Handy and quick. :D

To get hitch weight, you would also need a truck-only weigh. Then compare the total of the tow-vehicle only with and without a trailer. The difference is the trailer tongue weight, so long as no weight distributing gear is hooked up.
BarneyS
Explorer III
Aug 17, 2013
Yes, you would need to unhook the trailer and weigh just the truck. Don't do that on the scale however. Pull off, park, and then weigh so you don't tie up the scales. Truckers don't like to get delayed - time is money. :W
Barney
riven1950
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
Ps: On the Cat scale website it shows weighing the Tv / TT with TV front wheels on one scale, TV rear wheels on one scale, and TT wheels one 3rd scale. If this is possible with my rig will it give me the info I need to calculate hitch weight and other info I need or do I need to make a pass unhitched with just the TV? I am not using a WD system just a sway bar on one side of the hitch. Thanks, just a bit confused....
riven1950
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
Longtrace, I am not so concerned about the weight / rig or I would do as you suggest and weigh somehow before leaving. We took the same set up to Florida Keys in April with no problems ( about 1800 miles total ). This will be a shorter trip. Only time we experienced any issues in April was with a stiff cross wind and 18 wheelers going by...we just slowed down a bit then and all was ok. Oddly enough the 18 wheelers that affected us most seemed to be the car haulers not the big boxes, wonder if anyone else has that experience. Anyway, this is our second longer trip and I want to weigh fully loaded to see where we actually are weight wise. See how close my guess is to actual.

Oaklevel..thanks for the cat website info. Interesting read. I searched and the closest one to my home is about 50 miles.

Will find one of these or use the ones NC Hauler gave me.
Oaklevel
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
http://catscale.com/cat-scale-locator also have a how to weigh instruction.......nice site lots of info
Oaklevel
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
Check CAT SCALE's web site for locations.......... Concrete plants, quarries etc have scale also
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
riven1950 wrote:
Thanks NC Hauler, we should be able to hit one of the places you posted on. We will be coming into Hendersonville area from Charlotte via 74 to our first stop which is Hickory Nut Falls near Chimney Rock. Then we will be going to Cherokee after a few days...so I think we will be passing both of the places you mentioned. BTW the truck weigh station .. is it a state weigh station? I was wondering if they will let me weigh on state weigh scales for a few $$?

To Longtrace, we did have a farm supply place about 15-20 miles from here that had a scale but I think they are now closed. I think most of the farmers here are out of business or have gotten bigger and haul their goods to the next county over. Our county is mostly beaches and golf courses now, not much need for truck scales.

It's a regular truck weight station...almost alway's open....don't know the cost, but again, should be open. Doesn't cost much.
Longtrace
Explorer
Aug 16, 2013
riven1950 wrote:
I was wondering if they will let me weigh on state weigh scales for a few $$?

Usually not for money. In some states, when the scalemaster is not there, you can still drive over the sales and view the weight through the window. Other states block off the scales so you can't.

I have never talked to a state scalesmaster about getting a private weigh when the scales are open...

Our county is mostly beaches and golf courses now, not much need for truck scales.

Ah. What about a landfill? Or waste transfer station? Or scrap metal place, or rock quarry?

Until I have a rig sorted out, I like scaling before the trip, where I have the option to change things. After I'm 100 miles down the road it's too late to change what I've loaded. The most I can do is change the hitch setup or shift the load around.

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